The new stadium is a chance for the Eagles to have their own home after stints at Newcastle Arena and Northumbria University’s Sports Central.

Far from being just a home court for Newcastle’s highly decorated basketball team, the facility will house the club’s community operation and outreach programmes, which started in the West End nearly two decades ago.

Now the Eagles work with more than 200 schools and junior clubs in 52 sites across the North East.

“But there’s no focal point,” said managing director Paul Blake, who has worked for the club since the mid-1990s.

“This building gives us a home for our community foundation. It’s a significant investment in the West End, and we have been doing that for decades. That won’t change, it will continue.”

The Eagles, who have won seven BBL titles, already had permission to build a larger arena on the site, but a revised application was submitted after the club’s business case highlighted a need for a slightly smaller facility than the one approved in 2014.

The Eagles want the arena to be a facility for the whole community. They say they can open up the court for 158 hours a week, and provide access to the gym. The first team will only need the entire arena for few hours a week during the basketball season. It will also be used for volleyball, handball, netball and disabled basketball.

Paul said: “We want to sit down with the local community and map out their needs for the venue, because we want the venue to have significant community use during the week.”